COTEHELE, the National Trust house in Calstock, have harvested five times more apples than last year.

In 2002 they collected 800kg but this year they enjoyed a bumper harvest with 4,000kg.  

'To say it's been a bumper apple season is rather an understatement', says Chris Groves, Cotehele orchard officer. The bountiful crop is thanks to the combination of a cold winter, the late spring blossom and a sultry summer.

'Throw in a few days of pruning in January and the bees hard work in May, and we're now savouring 4,000 kilos of Colloggetts, Queenies, Pig Snouts and many more Tamar varieties all waiting to be pressed into apple juice and sold at the property.'